Temperature Dependence of the Lower Critical Field of the Noncentrosymmetric Superconductor α-BiPd

Temperature variation of the lower critical Hc1 field in the noncentrosymmetric superconductor alpha-BiPd is probed by local magnetization measurements using Hall micromagnetometry, performed down to 0.3 K in a magnetic field applied along the crystallographic b axis. Below a critical temperature Tc similar or equal to 3.8 K, a conventional Hc1(T) dependence is found, typical for a single-band s-wave superconductor. The obtained data imply an absence of spin-triplet component in the superconducting wavefunction and marginal multiband effects in this material, which contradicts some literature reports.

Automated summary

The temperature variation of the lower critical Hc1 field in the noncentrosymmetric superconductor alpha-BiPd was investigated using Hall micromagnetometry. The measurements were performed down to 0.3 K in a magnetic field applied along the crystallographic b axis. Below the critical temperature Tc, which is around 3.8 K, a conventional Hc1(T) dependence, typical for a single-band s-wave superconductor, was observed. The obtained data indicate an absence of spin-triplet component in the superconducting wavefunction and marginal multiband effects in this material, contrary to some literature reports.